How can people so brilliant early in their careers lose their magic touch as the years pass? Did the proverbial fire in the belly that first drove them to artistic heights get somehow extinguished? Did they part with the collaborators who contributed to their success? Did changes in their profession stymie their creativity? Did they settle for mediocrity and the hefty paychecks that accompany it rather than take risks that could diminish their bank accounts? Did they simply run out of things to say? Or did they just get old and lose interest? Perhaps it's a little of this and a little of that.

On the flip side are the creative types who never lose their magic touch? And then there are the creative types who recapture their magic touch after losing it.

One director who has clearly lost the magic touch is Rob Reiner. His latest dud, "And So It Goes," which opens July 25, adds to a string of misfires dating back to 1994. It boggles the mind that this film came from the same person who made his directorial debut 30 years ago with "This is Spinal Tap" (1984), the greatest mockumentary EVAH. Reiner shared screenplay credit on that film with its three stars, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer. It's a comic masterpiece. His sophomore effort, "The Sure Thing" (1984), wasn't too shabby either, an updating of "It Happened One Night" starring John Cusack. Reiner's next film, "Stand By Me" (1986), based on the Stephen King novella "The Body," was yet another gem, a coming-of-age classic that other films have aped with varying degrees of success. "Earth to Echo," released earlier this month, rates as one of the weaker attempts.

Reiner kept the hits coming with "The Princess Bride" (1987), based on the novel of the same by William Goldman, who also wrote the screenplay. This endlessly quotable and marvelously acted comic fairy tale is a rare treat: a film that appeals to all ages. To not like this movie is inconceivable. Reiner next directed one of the greatest romcoms EVAH: "When Harry Met Sally" (1989). Starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan with an Oscar-nominated screenplay from Nora Ephron, the film fires on all cylinders - romance, comedy, chemistry. It's entertaining in every way.

Reiner proved he could excel at more than comedy with "Misery" (1990), a horror-thriller based on the novel by that King fellow again with a script by that Goldman fellow again. The film stars Kathy Bates, in an Oscar-winning performance, and James Caan, the former playing a deranged fan of the latter. The film is as subtle as a sledgehammer to the feet. Ouch.

Reiner scored next with "A Few Good Men," (1992), a drama based on a play by Aaron Sorkin who also wrote the screenplay. Starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore, the film was nominated for four Oscars: best picture, best supporting actor (Nicholson), best sound and best editing. The Cruise-Nicholson courtroom face-off is worth the price of admission alone. The film rates as Reiner's biggest box-office success, grossing $141 million.

Page 2 of 4 - That's seven solid films in a row for Reiner, son of comic mastermind Carl Reiner and an Emmy Award-winning actor. Before getting behind the camera, he played Michael Stivic, aka Meathead, on "All in the Family," one of the greatest TV shows EVAH. As an actor and now as a director, Reiner could do no wrong. And then, inexplicably, it all fell apart.

Reiner's next film was arguably his worst, "North," (1994), an alleged comedy starring Elijah Wood as a boy who divorces his parents. Based on a novel by Alan Zweibel who penned the script with Andrew Scheinman, the film features an all-star cast in an all-star mess. In addition to Wood, the film waste the talents of Jon Lovitz, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Bruce Willis, Dan Aykroyd and Kathy Bates. It received six Razzie award nominations for its overall rottenness. OK, I'll say it - Reiner went south with "North."

The director rebounded slightly - he could only go up after "North" - with "The American President" (1995), a political romcom starring Michael Douglas and Annette Bening with a script by that Sorkin fellow again.

Reiner's next film, "Ghosts of Mississippi" (1996), turned out to be a critical and commercial disappointment. Starring Alec Baldwin, James Woods and Whoopie Goldberg, the movie is based on the true story of the 1994 trial of Byron De La Beckwith, the white supremacist accused of the 1963 assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Evers. Woods received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of De La Beckwith. Lewis Colick wrote the script. Let's just say that the courtroom drama here doesn't measure up to the one in "A Few Good Men."

More disastrous was "The Story of Us" (1999), a romcom yawner about the state of marriage starring Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer with a script by that Zweibel fellow again and Jessie Nelson.

"Alex & Emma" (2003) was even more deplorable. Yet another sleep-inducer, it stars Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson with a script by Jeremy Leven. Wilson plays a writer who has to pen a novel in 30 days or meet an unpleasant fate. Kind of like watching this romcom wannabe.

Matters don't improve much with "Rumor Has it" (2005), yet another romcom bomb. This one, penned by Ted Griffin, stars Jennifer Aniston as a woman who discovers her family provided the inspiration for "The Graduate." The cast includes Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine and Mark Ruffalo. File this film under "colossal waste of talent."

Reiner enjoyed more commercial success with "The Bucket List" (2007), a comedy-drama penned by Justin Zackham and starring that Nicholson fellow again and Morgan Freeman as two terminally ill men who go on a road trip to complete a to-do list before they die. Many critics, however, were less enamored, wishing the film had kicked the bucket before arriving in theaters.

Reiner went for the younger demographic with "Flipped" (2010), based on the tween novel by Wendelin Van Draanen with a script by Reiner and that Scheinman fellow again. Callan McAuliffe and Madeline Carroll star as eighth-graders who have feelings for each other but have issues with which to deal. The film was a box-office bust, grossing $1.7 million.

Page 3 of 4 - Back to the "more mature" demographic with "The Magic of Belle Island" (2012), a comedy-drama starring that Freeman fellow again as a cranky novelist struggling with alcohol. I didn't see this film penned by Guy Thomas. Did anyone, other than a smattering of critics? It didn't receive a wide release and grossed only $102,388. Reviews were decidedly mixed. Need we say more?

Now we get "And So It Goes," another appeal to the Geritol generation, this one starring that Douglas fellow again and Diane Keaton. The former plays a cranky real estate agent who enlists the help of the latter when his granddaughter arrives unexpectedly. The romcom, penned by Mark Andrus, might do well at the box office since it marks the first teaming of Douglas and Keaton, but there star power can't overcome a mundane story told with little inspiration.

How to explain this losing streak? One can certainly cite the decline in quality of the screenplays. Also, Reiner, who displayed versatility early in his career, seems to be stuck in a romcom rut now. While it's hard to place a director this talented in the washed-up bin, a 20-year drought gives cause for concern. That said, Woody Allen had a long dry spell, too. All Reiner has to do is recapture the magic. So simple, right? At least he has a fan in that Goldman fellow.

''(Reiner's) films have a certain comedy style, coupled with a sweetness and toughness,'' said Goldman in a 1987 New York Times article. ''You know, 'Stand By Me' is not just about four kids coming of age together before junior high school - they're going to see a corpse. There's a certain flintiness to Rob's films. They're funny, but they're not simpy. If John Hughes had made 'Stand By Me' - and I'm not knocking Hughes - the four wouldn't have gone off looking for a body, they would have been searching for a convertible.''

Ain't we got fun

It’s now time for TRIVIA.

Last month’s tester: In this popular movie, the minor character of a gambler was based on a real-life high roller who was stabbed to death 150 times. Name the movie and the high roller.

Answer: "Casino" and Akio Kashiwagi.

Paul Connelly of Plymouth was the first reader to answer the question correctly. Congratulations! Kelly Howard of Holliston and Anne Marie Woods of Whitman also answered the question correctly.

This month’s tester: A 1935 comedy would provide the plot for a 1983 comedy. Name both comedies. Clue: The title of one of the films is not in English. Another clue: One of the films received an Oscar nomination.

The first reader to answer the question correctly will receive a prize from Fruits & Passion.

Trivia enthusiasts can call me at 508-626-4409 or email me at rtremblay@wickedlocal.com. Make sure you leave your name, address and phone number on my message machine or email so I can contact you if you answered the question correctly. The address is needed so winners can be mailed their prize. Callers should spell out their names slowly and clearly so their names will be spelled correctly in the column.

Page 4 of 4 - Answers will be accepted until 5 p.m. on July 15. Good luck!